The Next Steps: 2006-2007

Following the withdrawal of SRTA from the Australian championship, Dean continued to drive for Subaru Australia in selected tarmac rallies and circuit events, including Targa Tasmania. And he put that tarmac experience to good use, teaming up with Chris Atkinson and Cody Crocker to finish 2nd in the inaugural Bathurst 12-hour endurance race.

Dean and co-driver Bill Hayes also continued to compete in the Australian Rally Championship, but this time in a Maximum Motorsport-prepared Subaru WRX STI. Taking on the big-budget Toyota, Ford and Mitsubishi factory teams, the pair finished 3rd outright both years, collecting back-to-back Privateers titles in the process.

And while not rallying in Australia, Dean and Bill linked up with Subaru Rally Team China, taking the team to it’s first podium finish in the Chinese Rally Championship.